Microsoft Teacher Network Announced - Any Comparison? - Classroom 2.02024-03-28T20:03:14Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:100802?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A102494&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI think you can expect the ed…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1033532008-01-28T22:31:28.054ZJack Phelpshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/jackphelps
I think you can expect the educational space to be a center of "free stuff" initiatives from at least major companies (a category which I suspect includes Ning) for a long time in the future. Two things tend to drive down prices and drive up the amount of free stuff in this space; first, it's an area focused on by a lot of non-profits, which creates a glut of free or discounted offerings, and second, it's perceived as an important place to be for larger tool providers because of what's frankly…
I think you can expect the educational space to be a center of "free stuff" initiatives from at least major companies (a category which I suspect includes Ning) for a long time in the future. Two things tend to drive down prices and drive up the amount of free stuff in this space; first, it's an area focused on by a lot of non-profits, which creates a glut of free or discounted offerings, and second, it's perceived as an important place to be for larger tool providers because of what's frankly a "joe camel" effect: getting your tools in the hands of students/teachers creates lifelong users. Hence Apple and Microsoft's long-time subsidy of their products in the educational marketplace. Smaller content providers naturally need a revenue model, but any company for whom the marginal cost of production is basically zero will tend to keep throwing free stuff here. I looked around and didn't se…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1033502008-01-28T22:22:47.762ZJack Phelpshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/jackphelps
I looked around and didn't see anything there that's not done as well or better here, Steve. Then again, I'm also partially competitive :)
I looked around and didn't see anything there that's not done as well or better here, Steve. Then again, I'm also partially competitive :) I thought "wiki" meant "wikip…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1032232008-01-28T19:07:36.671ZLynn Marentettehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LynnMarentette
I thought "wiki" meant "wikipedia" until a year or so ago. Resources Wiki might be a good compromise.
I thought "wiki" meant "wikipedia" until a year or so ago. Resources Wiki might be a good compromise. Well, it was "Wiki" for a lon…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1030832008-01-28T15:48:08.730ZSteve Hargadonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/SteveHargadon
Well, it was "Wiki" for a long while and it got almost no attention that way, either. :) OK, I'll call it "Resources Wiki" and let's see if there's magic in the compromise!
Well, it was "Wiki" for a long while and it got almost no attention that way, either. :) OK, I'll call it "Resources Wiki" and let's see if there's magic in the compromise! One suggestion is to change t…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1030712008-01-28T15:22:36.497ZLynn Marentettehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LynnMarentette
One suggestion is to change the "Resources" tab label to "Wiki" or Resources Wiki. I didn't realize that there was a wiki behind the tab for a while.
One suggestion is to change the "Resources" tab label to "Wiki" or Resources Wiki. I didn't realize that there was a wiki behind the tab for a while. I would agree. And.. indoing…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1029712008-01-28T12:39:48.892ZSue Palmerhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/TheMaze
I would agree. And.. indoing so, Ning has created something of amazing value! The site created by the world will always have more to offer than the "Microsoft" type. It will always reflect the topic, be current, and reflect the needs of the users as it has been created by them! In my opinion, the only thing that Microsoft can <i>possibly</i> bring to the table is a better platform for the discussion. (I am not saying that what they have here is better, as of yet.) When they get <i>involved…</i>
I would agree. And.. indoing so, Ning has created something of amazing value! The site created by the world will always have more to offer than the "Microsoft" type. It will always reflect the topic, be current, and reflect the needs of the users as it has been created by them! In my opinion, the only thing that Microsoft can <i>possibly</i> bring to the table is a better platform for the discussion. (I am not saying that what they have here is better, as of yet.) When they get <i>involved</i> in the discussion, it's all over.<br />
<br />
Sue P Steve,
I really appreciate th…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1029612008-01-28T12:20:14.725ZGerald Arditohttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/GeraldArdito
Steve,<br />
I really appreciate this distinction. I also like the what shapes the community is not so much the tool or service but the people who are participating with the tool or service.
Steve,<br />
I really appreciate this distinction. I also like the what shapes the community is not so much the tool or service but the people who are participating with the tool or service. So, a distinction worth makin…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1028842008-01-28T07:23:09.576ZSteve Hargadonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/SteveHargadon
So, a distinction worth making is between programs and services that essential need to have a revenue stream, and a new class of program or service, exemplified by Craigslist or Wikipedia, where the primary value is in the user contributions, and the actual cost of running the service is low enough that it can essentially exist on relatively low revenue. I think what makes Ning an interesting platform for me is that it so successfully has tapped this "prosumer" marketplace, providing an…
So, a distinction worth making is between programs and services that essential need to have a revenue stream, and a new class of program or service, exemplified by Craigslist or Wikipedia, where the primary value is in the user contributions, and the actual cost of running the service is low enough that it can essentially exist on relatively low revenue. I think what makes Ning an interesting platform for me is that it so successfully has tapped this "prosumer" marketplace, providing an inexpensive platform for people to create communities around their passions without expecting (necessarily) to find a way to "profit" from the work. This is quite a unique endeav…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-28:649749:Comment:1028072008-01-28T03:04:09.061ZArlene Andersonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/ArleneAnderson
This is quite a unique endeavor on the part of Microsoft when you really think about it. Will it work like My Space that somewhere in the fine print it says the information and ideas posted become the property of the Innovative Network? Is Microsoft looking for "Innovative Teachers" to share ideas so they can use them in product development?<br />
Microsoft already has an International Innovative Teacher competition where those who submit their ideas share the information in forums. Our district won…
This is quite a unique endeavor on the part of Microsoft when you really think about it. Will it work like My Space that somewhere in the fine print it says the information and ideas posted become the property of the Innovative Network? Is Microsoft looking for "Innovative Teachers" to share ideas so they can use them in product development?<br />
Microsoft already has an International Innovative Teacher competition where those who submit their ideas share the information in forums. Our district won a spot of one of five to go to Seattle and later to Helsinki this last year. The ultimate winner was a teacher in Ireland for his innovative project. I'm not thinking there was much in the way of compensation here, just recognition.<br />
I'd rather share my ideas here on Classroom 2.0.<br />
Arlene This is an interesting conver…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-27:649749:Comment:1026492008-01-27T22:25:53.572ZGerald Arditohttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/GeraldArdito
This is an interesting conversation.<br />
While I only been a member here at Classroom 2.0 for two or three weeks, I have found it incredibly helpful. Certainly some of that has been thanks to exchanges of resources and ideas (the recent discussion about our blogs, for example).<br />
<br />
Mostly, though, I have been really enlivened and empowered by the community itself. We are people hard at work (and at play, it seems). I have begun to feel much less alone in the technology world the more I participate…
This is an interesting conversation.<br />
While I only been a member here at Classroom 2.0 for two or three weeks, I have found it incredibly helpful. Certainly some of that has been thanks to exchanges of resources and ideas (the recent discussion about our blogs, for example).<br />
<br />
Mostly, though, I have been really enlivened and empowered by the community itself. We are people hard at work (and at play, it seems). I have begun to feel much less alone in the technology world the more I participate here.<br />
<br />
Thanks so much for the partnership.